Effects of platelet activating factor on the chemotaxis of normodense eosinophils from normal subjects

Highly purified eosinophils were obtained from normal subjects, and their chemotactic responses to platelet activating factor (PAF) were evaluated. PAF induced both eosinophil chemotactic and chemokinetic responses, and was 100 fold more potent eosinophil chemotactic factor as compared to eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis. On the other hand, leukotriene B4 did not show any eosinophil chemotactic activity. A selective PAF antagonist, BN52021, inhibited eosinophil chemotaxis in a dose dependent manner. Preincubation of eosinophils with PAF induced the deactivation of eosinophils for further chemotactic responses to PAF. These findings suggest that PAF is a potent chemotactic factor for normal eosinophils.